Reenforced gypsum block machine



f 4G.H.A.RUBY

RENFORCED GYPSUM BLOCK MACHINE Filed Feb. l5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet I 5 Sheets-Sheet `2 Q mm Q Ei im N C gid,...

Q Q Q Ott. 5 1926. 1 'i G. H. A. RUBY REENFORCED GYPSUM BLCK MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1926 G. H. A. RUBY REENFORCED GYPSUM BLOCK MACHINE Oct. s, 1926.A Lamm Filed Feb. 15,k 192@ S sheds-sheet s J4 i v l 4 l 5215 I4 l5 I4 l 6 714 I3 o l o 5 f 20 35 20/ 35 v .a L Ell-37g la 3 u Il c e 4 a, 25 I3 l Y o u F l 15 52 l5 l5 7 4a 1 4 /4 /314 35144 '514x 5 y Flg /f 5 l 215 4 1.5 54 2^ l? 14 l .14 4 -f 30 l o '29 2 c a0 9 -'m 15 2o f. 20 /3 "0 E 32 I8 [618 l la l w4- G. H. A. RUBY REENFORCED GYPASUM BLOCK MACHINE Oct' 5 9 cs.v H. A.' RUBY REENFORCED GYPSUM BLOCK MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 192s 5 sheets-sheet 5 Qf. ,w (f mu ,me Mu. n MR. m m mmf/H M n @U5 w WM @j a. 1 .ma /2F. /M o J asr ' theform away fromthe vPatented Get. 5, 1926.

j Unir. Ajsgrars yGEORGE H. A. RUBY, or1 EAST GRAND rterrns,r iaroriIGAN.

Application led. February This invention relates to a ymachine for manufacturing reenforced gypsum blocks.Vv

Blocks of this character are used 'in building, ordinarily7 either for the floor, `ceiling or roof. wise by use of metal reenforceinent such as a number of rods located lengthwise of the block'in spaced apart relation, the rods being embedded in the blocks and at eac end extending a 'distance beyond the ends of the blocks. Y

It is a primary object .and purpose of the 'present invention to provide a machine which can be continuously operated and `by means vof which reenforced. blocks of the character noted made from cementitious material, having as its principal ingredient7V may beA progypsum or plaster of Paris, duced in large quantity and at very. low

cost. kThe labor cost in connection witha.

machine of' this character is reducedto Va Vminimum. Itis a furtherobject 'and purpose to provide a machine operation and inV which will be provided with end mcmbersautomatically' moved into position when de-f lsired to partially complete the form, at which time the reenforcing Arods arel laid therein, thereafter moving' another end `por. tion of the form `into placeso as to completethe against displacement, followed bv an auto.- Vmatic outward'movement of said ends of after vthe cementitious material has been placed in said forms andl set yandV hardened, vthe blocks completed, this'permitting the ready removal of the blocks from lthe `machine after the same havebeenset'an'd hardene'd. The machine is full),7 automatic in all particularsrequiring only that the cenienti blocks .shall be removed therefrom.

For an understanding of the invention well as others not at this timespecifically which- Y Fig. v1 is anrelevation *of whatl mayv be.

Atermed the'front end of themachine;

rear endof the machine.

These blocks are reenforced lengthl ends ofthe bloclr Fig. Q-is a lile'elevation ofthe oth.er-prY 15,-ie2'e. serieu No. 88,190.'

Fig.l 3r a plan vview of (the frontk endl portion of the machineshown in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a 'fragmentary' enlarged elevati'onand section of the rear end ofthe ma-v chine` at which endk the completed' blocks aredelivered from the machine.

. Fig. 5 isa plan view .of the rear delivery end of the machine. c w Fig. y6 isa horizontal plan and section substantially ontheplaneof line (3f-6 of Figli, looking downward.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the blockv l made by themachine. Y

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section on the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. v1.

Fi-g. 9 is a fragmentary enlargedplan of one end of a block form as it appearswhen ready to receive the ceinentitious material. Fig. l() is 'a fragmentary side elevation thereof. y' v 'r Fig. 11 is a'fragmentary enlarged transverse vvertical section on the plane of line automatic in itsV the forms into which the cementitious material` is placed 11-11 of Fig. l looking toward the forward end of the-machine, as indicatedv by the arrow, fand v Fig. 12 -is a similar fragmentary enlarged Likel vreference cl'iaralctersA referl to iilre! 'parts-in 'the several figures ofthe drawings. form and hold the reenforcing rods side of the machine anumber of spaced?4 apart vertical posts l. which, preferably; arel of angle iron. These posts are associated one at ythe opposite side ofthe machine and are connected together byccross bars 2, `as shown, located adistance helow the upper I ends andf'also a distance above the lower tious material shall be fed to it and that'the byA means of which these'ends 'areattained as .y

ends of said posts. In addition, atf the front and rear e'ndsofxthe machine upper' and lower ycross bars or rails '3 nect the end posts and those next' tothe end. These cross bars of angle ironserve not only the purpose of connecting the posts l trans-V versely, but also serve other purposesy as will later appear in this description." Horizontalupper and lower irails ortrac'lrs 4 lof angle formation are connected to the posts a short distance above the upper cross rails 2 and a short distance belowfthe 'lower cross rails These rai-ls have their horizonte.;

other Y coninpairs7 oneof each-pair-at one lside and jira Yeach end flanges extending,` inwardly to serve as tracks t'or the convey-ing mechanism` of the machine.

At each end ot the machine and at each side a post 5 is located a shortdistance from post 1, being approximately one halt as long as said end postand connected thereto at its upper end by plate 6. Bearings 7 are secured adjacent the upper ends of the posts 5 and two shafts 8 are rotatably mounted in these bea-rings, one at each end otthe machine. O

On each shaft two spaced apart' large sprocket wheels 9 are secured around'wliich pass endless conveyer chainsv 10 ot suitable construction'. The diameter of the wheels such that the' upper runs of said vchains Vare located in substantially the same horizontal' plane? ask the upper trackrails'4 and the lower runs ofsai'd chains are located in substantially the samer horizontal plane asthe lower trackira'il's 4. @ne of theV shafts 8, that at the rear end'l of the machine, is drivenby an electric motor 112throug'h suitable reduction' gearing indicatedv at 12 in Fig 5. move continuously atlow speed.

At spaced a'p'art points in the 'length' of the chains 10 bars 13 aire located each at each end being equipped with a carriage lmember 14 having rollers 15 which traverse f uppersi'd'es of the horizontal flanges of the rails 4, previously described. Each bar has two spaced iiller blocks 17 secured thereto over each of which a transverse bar 13 is secured being secured to'rth'e lill'er block 17 substantially midway between its ends. To the bars 18 a bottom plate 19 for a block form is permanently'- secured'. Sides for the form are provided by plates v20 hinged at` 21 to the ends of the cross bars 13, as best shown in Fig. 4. The width ot a. bottom plate 19 is such that when the forms aire lol cated horizontally on an upper or lower run ot' the conveyor chains, the plates 20 at the Vadjacent sides of two consecutive forms lie against each other. vBut when the forms pass around the sprocket wheels 9 the same are separated short distances, as shown in F 4, permitting the vertical side plates 20 of the forms to tilt outwardly.

On each vend portion of each bar 13a member having` a base 22 is mounted, the

saine being formed at its inner end with an upturned flange 24 and at opposite side edges and Vsubstantially its middle portion with vertical sides and partitions 23. To the inner side of the flange 24 a plate 25 is permanently secured having Van inwardly eir- Qt'enfding flange Vor rib 26. v 'Each of the plates at its upper edge is notched at spaced "apartpoints at 27 and it is in these notches "that the Ymetal ree-ntorcmnrods for the blocks are t'o'befla-id. rlh'e base 22, at Aits lower side isi'ormed with two spaced 'apart downward The' chains and' sprocket wheels 9- ly extending' ribs 2S one passing to each side of the bar 13 on which it is `mounted and a plate 29 is located underneath the bar 13 and secured by set screws or other suitable fastening's to the ribs 23,V it being evident that the construction' described is thus mounted for. slidingr movement, one at each cn'd ot each form. And when moved to inner position the edge of the flang'er26 abuts against the end of the plate 19 the upper sides of flanges 26 and plates VV19 being flush' with each other. A roller 30 mounted on a vertical aXis is'lconnected to therplate 29'V adjacent its outer edge, as best shown iir Figs. 3, 1'1=and 12. f .At the upper side of each Vof the end constructions for the forms a horizontal plate 31 is' mounted and is slidably engaged with out-turned fla-np'es on the sides 23, described, members 32, as shown inFig. 4, beine; used to make a secure yetslidable connection of the pla-tes 31`vtherewith. Each of the plates 31 at its upper sideand near its outer en d islequipped with ay rollermounted tol turn about a vertical axis. On the under side of each. plate 31 bars` 34 of angle formation are permanently secured, as shown Y in Fig'. 11. These ,are for' the'v purposeof locating the reenforcing. rods inthe form so as to; position the ends of saidrodslproperly and in alignment.

A form when ready to receive cementitious lmateri al to make a block has the end members just describedA moved to and held at inner position, as shown yin Figzxll. The block 35 is 'to be made, as shown in Fig. 12, at each end and at its upper side' with a rabbet 36,`ea.ch end being' reduced in thickness, as indicated at 37. TheV reenforcing' rods 33L have the major portion of their length located parallel to and a. shortdistance from the bottom plates 19 ot' the form but adjacenty each end are bentupwardlv and outwardly making' Vthe inclined sections 39 which terminate in horizontal end por terial is delivered into said forms continuouslyV from a suitable hopper 41, shown in Fie'. 1.

This delivery" of material to the forms occurs on the upper run ot the conveyer mech-` anism a relatively short distance from the socalled front end of the machine. At this point a leveling' device is located, similar if not identical in construction with that shown in my Patent No. 1, 21, 1925. Included in this device is atransverse roller 42'mounted adjacentY one end of and between two bars 43, (see Fig. 3) which are secured at onev end to an upper cross member 3, each also 'furnishing a bear- 534,610, issued April" ing for one'end of a roller 44, two of which are located lengthwise of the machine and substantially at the ends of the block forms. These rollersat their front ends have shafts passing through a cross bar connected to two of the vertical posts 1 and are driven from a shaft 46 through suitable beveled gears 47, the roller 42 being likewise driven from the shaft 46 by chain 43. The rollers 44 rotate so as tor move any cementitious material coming to them inwardly into the forms and as the forms pass under the roller 42 the cementitious material is leveled and any excess is carried overinto the succeeding form.

Means are provided for automatically shifting the position of the upper plate 31 of each end member of the forms and also for .shifting the lower member atthe end of each form as it is needed for closing or opening the forms at various stages of the progress ofthe operation. At each sideof the leveling device, shown inrFigs. 1 and 3, ahorizontal bar 49 is secured, being connected at its ends to the upper cross bar 3.

Bars 49 are located so that the rollers 33 carl ried by plates 31 bear against their inner sides, whereby said plates 31 are hel-d at inner position-v and cannot move outwardly so long as the rollers'33 engage against the bars 49 whichparallel the longitudinal aXis of the machine. These bars extend nearly the full length of the machine or from the leveling device nearly to the delivery end of the machine. In front of the leveling device andat each side of themachine an upper inclined bar is mounted, its'rear end joining substantially with the front end of the adjacent bar 49 while its'front end is llocated farther outward, as best shown in Fig. 3. In front of the bars 50 oth-er bars 51, paralleling the length of the machine, and `mounted substantially in alignment with t-he bars 49. At the rear end of the machine and at each side thereof an upper inclined bar 52 is mounted, as-shown in Fig. 5, the front ends of the bars 52 being set inwardly a short distance from the rear ends of the adjacent bars 49. It is evident that when the rollers 33 on the plates 31 come to the bars 52 and ri-de against the outersid-es thereof said plates 31 which have been held at inner position by the bars 49 are gradually moved outward so that vwhen the ends of the bars 52 are. reachedV the `plates 31 associated with an),T particular form are moved outward at each en-d far enough to completely uncover the projecting ends 40 of the vreenforcing ro-ds and the thinner end sections 37 of the blocks Directly below the bars 52`which are supported by upper cross members 3 similar inclined bars 53 are mounted on the cross members 2 directly -below said cross members 3,'as shown inl '.Fig. 12, and these engaging withthe rollers l30 move the lower members Vof ythe ends of theforms outward while the plates 31 are being moved outward by the engagement of `plate l19.

By reason of the adhesion'of a block to the bottom plate 19 of its form it is necessary th'at. the end portions ofthe block project a distance beyond the end'edges of the bottom plate's'so that'workmen removingr the block may-be enabled to engage underneath Vthe same at its ends to break it loose from said bottom plate 19 yof the form Ain which it is made.

The chains 10 runningcontinuously, it ist evident that after a form has been opened automatically and a bloclrhas beenremoved,

the forms in open lcondition pass underneath the wheels 9 at the rear end of the machine and start backward toward the front end of the machine. .During this movement back to the front end of the machine the memy bers having base 22 with sides 23 and flange 24 and plate 25 attached thereto, are moved inwardly so thatflanges 25 'abut against the ends of thek plates 19. And atthe'same time the upper plates31 areheld lin, outer position and notv permitted to move inward at the same time. This inward movement of the member22 may occur at any desired point in the return of the forms to the front end of themachine and, as shown,`in the drawings it occurs fjust' before the forms start to move upwardly around the front wheels 9.- The inward movement of the members 22-is effected by twojinclined bars 54, shown in Fig. 6, against the inner sides of which the rollers 30 bear, this forcing theL said members 22 and att-ached parts inwardly. the plates 31 run at the outer side of the bars 55, shownl 'in'Figs l and-8. Accordingly, when the forms move upwardlyfat the front end of the machine around the front wheels 9 they are substantially as they are shownat the upper part of Fig. S. That is, plates 31 are in outer position and Aheld therein by the bars 51 while vthelowe'r parts of these ends of the forms have been moved inwardly and are vheld in such` position by bars 56. Before the rollers 33 pass into'engagem'ent vwith vthe inclined bars 50 the reenforcing rods are laid in the formsthe ends 40 there- But at the same time the roll-ers 33 on l of being received lin the notches 2'? in plates y 25. When rollers 33reacli andare acted sage.

yoit

upon by the inclined bars 50 plates 3l are moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig.V 1l, the members Sil striking` the ends of the reenforcing rods and properly locating the same so that one end does not ez;- tend out farther than any other. From this point the forms ready to receive the ccmentitious material pass underneath the hopper 4l, receive the material which is leveled oii by the leveling device described, and thence passed to the rear, the cementitious material setting and hardening during` such pasl/Vhen the inclined bars and reache-d, the ends of the form are moved outwardly as previously described so `that each block will be free and may be removed from its form as it passes around the rear sprocket wheels 9 where the vertical side plates Q0 oi? the forms may open.

It is evident that this machine is a continuously operating machine and one with which blocks of the character described, may be very rapidly made. The cost et manufacture oit' the blocks, other than the material used, is very low, the labor cost being reduced to a minimum. The construction is practical and will produce recn'torced blocks cementitious material very rapidly. Large yquantity production is a valu-ble ieature of this machine. rllhe inver. 'on is defined in the appended claims and is 'to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within tneir scope.

l claim: Y

l. A machine of the class described.y coinprisina' conveying means, and a plurality ot block `forms connected to and movable with said conveying' means, each oit said VYterms having' a'base plate, hinged sides, and ends slidably movable toward or away from the base plate, substantially described.

2. A machine ci the class described., comprisinp,v endless conveying' means, and a plurality of bloclt'forins disposed transversely across the conveying` means, connected there to and movable therewith, earch of said forms having' a base plate, sid-es liinnjedly mounted at the side edges oit the base plate. and end Amovable into abutting engagement with the ends or" the base plate, or away therefrom.

3. A machine ot the class described, coinprisingr a plurality of spaced apart endless conveyingmembers, a plurality Aet bars disposed transversly oi said conveying members andv attached thereto at spaced apart points, a base plate tor a block Ytorni `located over and lengthwise of each bar and connected therewith, sides for the 1form at cach sideA edge ot the base plate, and ends for the forms slidably mounted on said bars movable into and out of abutting engagement with the ends of said base plates. Y

t. A machine of the class described. com- ',prising a Yplurality oi' spaced apart endless conveying; members, wheels around which Leoair/e said conveying members pass, a' plurality of,

spaced apart bars connected to and disposed across said conveying` members, upper and lower tracks at the ends of said bars, means Vsideedge of the base plat-e, and two ends for each torm slidably mounted-on each bar one at each end of the base plate to move into and out o't abutting` engagement therewith.

5. A machine of the class described, comprisine,` a plurality ot horizontally located spacer apart endless conveyingmembers, wheels around which said conveying members pass, a plurality of spaced apart bars connected to and located across said conveyingr members, upper and lower tracks at the ends oi' said bars, means on the ends of the bars to ride on said tracks, a base plate for a block 'form disposed longitudinally over each bar and connected thereto, two sides for each iorm located at the sides edges of et the base plate to move toward or away from the ends of the base plate, meansv for 'moving .said ends inwardly to abut against the ends et the base plate at a predetermined point in the travel et each form, and means for moving' said ends away from the base plates at a further point in the travel oi:- vthe form.

G. A machine of the class described, comprising horizontally located endless conveyi means, a plurality o't blockY forms disposed across the conveying means and movable therewith, each ot said forms having; a hase plate, sides and ends mounted for movement toward or away from the ends of the base plate, means :tor moving` the ends of the 'terms away from the base plate as each term passes by a certain predetermined point in its travel with the conveying` means, and means 'for moving` the said ends of the forms toward the ends of their respective base plates each Lform passes a further predetermined point in its travel with the conveying' means. v

7. A n achine oi"- the class described, coinprisiug' horizontally located endless conveyingmeans, a plurality o1. block terms located across and connected to the conveying means and movable therewith, means for driving,` said conveying' means, a bottom for each torni, si des associated with said be'ttom, ends for each term, means tor slidably mounting vsaid ends for movement toward orV away said conveying means moves past a further point in its travel.

` 8. In a vmachine ofv the class described, an

andV said ends of the form being slidably' mounted on said bar, means automatically moving the ends ofthe form inward against the ends ofthe bottom plate during the movement of theconveyer,'means for automatically moving said ends of the form outward at a later stage ofthe movement of the conveyer, and means for moving Ysaid conveyer.

9. In a machine of the class described, endless horizontally positioned conveying means, a plurality of block forms located side by side on and across the said conveying means, each form including a bottom plate, two sides hinged to swing outward from the said-bottom plate, and two ends mounted for movement toward or away from said bottom plate, means for moving said ends toward the bottom plate into abutting engagement therewith during one part of the movement of the conveying means, means for moving said ends outward away from said bottom plate during a different and later part of the movement of said conveying. means, and means for driving the conveying means.

10. In a machine of the class described, endless horizontally positioned conveying means, block forms carried thereby, each including a bottom plate, sides, and ends mounted for movement toward or away from the ends of the bottom plate, means for continuously driving the conveying means, means for moving said ends toward the ends of the bottom plate at one point in the travel of the conveying means, and means for moving said ends/away from the bottom at a further point in the travel of the con` veying means. f Y

l1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a consecutive series of traveling block forms, each of said forms having outwardly and inwardly movable ends, automatic means for movingr the ends of successive forms inward at a predetermined point in the path of travel thereof and means'for thereafter moving said ends outward at .another point in the travel thereof.

l2. In a Y continuously operable Vblock forming machine, the combination of a successive series of traveling forms each having a bottom, sides and movable ends, means engaging vsuccessively with said ends to move thesame inwardly so as to close the Y forms successively at their ends, and means operating atv alater point in the travel of the forms for successively engaging said ends and moving the same outwardly substantially vas described.

'13. In a machine of the character described, a combination of a series of traveling forms each having a bottom plate, sides and end members to close the ends of the form, each of' said members comprising Y two parts, one slidably mounted on and over the other, automatic meansfor moving the lower'part of each of said end members into abutting engagement with theends of the bottom plates of the forms at one point 'in the travel of said forms, means for moving the upper parts of said end members inwardly at a further point in the travel of said forms, and means for moving both parts of said end members outwardly and away from the ends of said bottom plate at a still further ypoint in the travel of said forms.

ylet. InI a construction of the class described, a form for producing blocks of cementitious material comprising a bottom plate, vertical sides, one at each side edge of the bottom plate, end members for the form, each comprising a lower part mounted `for slidable movement toward or away from the ends of the bottom plate and a second upper part slidab-ly mounted on the first lower part of each end member and movable inward or outward with respect to said lower part on which it is mounted, substantially as described. Y

15. A form for making blocks of cementitious material, comprising an elongated longitudinally of said bar, vertical sidesdisposed one at each side edge of the bottom plate, a member slidably mounted at each end of the bar and movable toward or away from the adjacent end of said bottom plate, and a second member slidably on and above the first member for inward or outward movement with respect to said form.

16. A form for building blocks made of vcementitious material comprising an elongated bar, cross bars connected to said elongated bar in spaced apart relation to each other, a bottom plate attached to said cross bars, sides for the form hingedly connected to the ends of the crossbars, and ends for the form slidably mounted on the end porl each end of the bottom plate, each of said end members including. a vertical part" and a flange extending inwardly thereirom, the upper side of said flange lying in the same plane with the upper side of the` bottom.

plate, the inneredges ot' the said flanges on the ends abutting against the ends of the bottom plate when moved to inner position.

18. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 17, combined with a plate slidably mounted at the upper side ol: each end member and movable inward or outward thereon with respect to the form, said plate when moved to inner posf tion lying between the sides of the ormV and extending over said vertical part ont the end member on which 1t is mounted with its Ylower side located below the upper edges of the sides 'of the form.

19. A iorm for blocks made oi" cemen-` titious material comprising a bottom plate, sides hingedly mounted one at each side edge oi' the bottom plate so as to be swung out? wardly at their upper portions, ends for the form each comprising a lower member and an upper member, said lower member being mounted for slidable movement toward -or away trom the adjacent end of vthe bottom plate and said upper member being slidably mounted on the lower member for slidable movement in thesameV directions, vsaid lower member of each end including a vertical pori able inwardly so as to extend at itsin'ner` edge a distance inside of the verticall portion and covering the notched upper edge thereof.

20. A construction containing. the elements in combination defined in claim 19r and bars attached to the lower side of each of the upper members volf said ends, :said bars being located at a point- Voutside of the plane of said vertical part of the lower endv member..

In testimony whereof' I aiiix my signature.

GEORGE H.. A. RUBY. 

